Lucknow: The Railways suspended two officials on Thursday in connection with the derailment of the New Farakka Express. The two suspended were a signal inspector and the electrical signal maintainer to carry forward the investigation.

A senior official of the railways said, "The indications are that the cause of the accident was prima facie wrong signalling. We have suspended the two on the recommendation of the chief commissioner railway safety to ensure that no evidence is tampered with."

Northern Railway spokesperson Deepak Kumar said the senior section manager, signalling, Bachrawa, Vinod Kumar Sharma and electrical signal maintainer at Kundanganj, Amarnath were suspended today, as per news agency PTI. On Wednesday, five coaches along with the engine of New Farakka Engine, which was bound for New Delhi. At least five people were killed in the mishap and nine were seriously injured.

The train was travelling from Malda in West Bengal to New Delhi and the accident took place in Rae Bareli district’s Harchandpur at 6:10 am, Uttar Pradesh Additional Director General, Law and Order, Anand Kumar said. The death toll was confirmed to be five following confusion over the number of casualties and the number of coaches that had derailed.

Earlier the death toll was said to be six, then seven and final toll were confirmed to be five. Among the deceased, a one-year-old and a seven-year-old were killed. All of them belonged to Bihar. Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the deaths and said, "Condolences to the bereaved families and I pray that the injured recover quickly."